How to Refinish Your Wood Picnic Table

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Picnic tables can take a major beating from the weather. Rain, sun and even wind can wear away the finish on your picnic table. Rather than throwing the old table away and spending hundreds of dollars on a new one, refinish the wood on the old table and continue enjoying years of use. You can sand the wood by hand, but using power tools -- if you have them -- will save time and energy.

1

Spray all bolt fasteners with a penetration oil for easier removal. Mark each piece, including the top planks, bench planks and bottom brackets with numbers, starting with one and going up, for convenient reassembly. Draw yourself a crude picture of the picnic table for reference with each piece numbered on the piece of paper.

2

Remove the nuts and bolts from each piece of the picnic table using a socket wrench. A wrench on the bolt head and a socket wrench on the nut may help you remove the fasteners. Place each piece of the picnic table on a pair of saw horses.

3

Scrape the planks with a hand scraper to remove larger chunks of paint before sanding each plank down with your choice of sanding tools. Continue sanding the planks with a belt sander fitted with 120-grit paper. An orbital sander will work just as well. Re-write the number on the bottom of the plank you gave this piece for reassembly.

4

Sand the legs of the picnic table down in the same manner as the planks unless they are constructed of metal. Attach an accessory that features a center wheel with long bristles to a drill to remove surface coatings from metal legs.

5

Dip the brush into the desired finish, such as stain or paint, and swing the brush in long strokes to apply the product to the planks. Allow the planks to dry before flipping them over and applying more product. Spray paint the legs of the picnic table if they are metal. Use weather- and rust-resistant paint for a long-lasting finish. Sweeping a brush across the legs with the spray paint will prevent runoff and drips.

6

Reassemble the picnic table, using the old or new bolts and nuts, by referring to your crude drawing and the corresponding number on the finished piece.

Things You Will Need

Penetration oil

Socket wrench

Wrench

Saw horses

Paint scraper

Power sander

120-grit paper

Drill

Surface removal drill bit

Stain or paint

Paint brush

Safety glasses

Dust mask

Tip

Place a plastic sheet under the saw horses prior to applying the paint or stain to protect the ground.

Warning

Wear safety glasses and a dust mask when using a sander.

About the Author

Josh Arnold has been a residential and commercial carpenter for 15 years and likes to share his knowledge and experience through writing. He is a certified journeyman carpenter and took college-accredited courses through the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters training center. As a Los Angeles-based union carpenter, Arnold builds everything from highrises to bridges, parking structures and homes.